Water wheel



June 21, 1932. p. DARRAH Q 1,863,784

WATER WHEEL Filed July 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mllllllli mil INVENTOR.

I5 P404 H. 0499A}! ATTORNEYS.

June 21, 1932. A R H 1,863,784-

WATER WHEEL Filed July 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- PAUL H. DAR PAH I ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED Sr PAUL H. DARRAI-I, OF LOS GA'I0S, CALIFORNIA I WATER WHEEL Application filed July 19,

Another feature of the device lies in the novel manner of dropping paddles in the path of the stream and then of subsequently lifting the paddles out of the stream so that the paddles, in their return movement, will not interfere with the flow of water in the stream. 7

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of my invention will be particularly pointed out in what I hereinafter claim.

My invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device with a portion of the casing removed to show the water wheel. I

FigureQ is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of paddles.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a part of the device.

Figures 6 and 7 are sections along 66 and 77 of Figure 1.

Figures 8 and 9 are side and end views of a paddle.

Figure 10 is an underside view of a cover board. r

In carrying out my invention I provide a casing indicated generally at 1. This casso the the lines ing has an inlet 2 for Water, and this inlet is narrowed down at 3 for guiding the water to a compartment 4 at one side of the compartment. The comparament 4 has an open end, as at 5, for allowing the water to flow from the compartment back into the stream or other water source. I

A water wheel is mounted within the como partment 4. I will first describe how this 1930. Serial No. 469,088.

wheel operates when impelled by water, and then I will set forth the novel means for causing the wheel to become inoperative and 'yet at the same time permit the water to flow through the device.

A centrahvertical shaft 6 is mounted in the compartment 4 and -j'ournaled in the bottom of the casing, as at, 7, and in a removable cover board 8. The shaft 6 has a hub portion 9 that in the present form of the device is shown hexagonal in shape. a

In Figure 1 it willbe noted that I provide for rods 10 that aredisposed midway between the edges of the faces 11 on the hub 9 and adjacent to thetopsof these faces. The rods 10 projectfat right angles to the faces 11 and have their outer ends connected to each other by members 12 of the shape shown in Figure K igure 4shows how the members 12 are connected to the rods .10 and further shows *2 how a water paddle 13 is swingably mounted on each rod 10. The face 11 carries a bracket 14 that limits themovement of the paddle 13 in one direction. The bracket 14 holds the paddle in avertical position.

The water wheel is designed to rotate in a clockwise direction, when looking at Figure 1. The paddles 13 depend vertically; the water impinges against these paddles and. causes them to turn the wheel and the shaft 6. The

brackets 14 hold the paddles 13 in a vertical position as the paddles pass around the top of the water wheel, as shown in Figure 1.

I provide novel means for raising the paddles out of the water after they have done their work and for causing the paddles to re-enter the water when the cycle is again started. For example, from the position A to the position B the paddles 13 extend downwardly at right angles and are acted upon by L the water. When the paddles leave the posi ion B they will be raised into a position over lying the water and will be maintained in this position until they again leave the point A.

r The means for accomplishing this com- .prises a cam 16, shown in Figures 1 and 6,

that engages with the paddles 13 andlifts them so that they will swing about therods 10. Lugs 15 are carried by each paddle 13, and these lugs ride upon a curved arm-1 7 (see Figure 6), after the paddles 13 have been partially swung about the rods 10. The arm 17 merges into a ring shaped member 18. In Figure 1 I show how the lugs 15 are supported by the ring 18. The lugs in turn hold the paddles 13 in the horizontal position shown in Figure 1. V

The ring 18 is broken at19 'anda swingable ring segment 20 normally inclines downwardly from the ring 18 and permits the-lugs l-5-to ride down and thus to lower the paddles 13 into a vertical position where they may The again acted upon by the water. I

It will be seen from the ;-c.o-n-struction that the paddles are lowered for a portion of their ring-tends.

PAUL H. DARRAH.

movement and are raised for the remaining portion ofthis movement. This prevents'the paddles from dragging through the wateron their return movement. I I

If it is desired to cause the-watenwheel to become inoperative, the ring segment 20 (seeFigures'l and 7..) may be shifted fromits downwardly finclined position into a position'whereit will bridge the gap 19. The lugs 15 will now continue to ride uponthe ring 18'and willprevent'thepaddles 13 from again dropping back into the water. Figure 7 shows how the ring segment '20 is mounted upon a stub shaft 21 and further showshow this stub shaft'is rocked-by means of a'handle-QQ. Aswingingof theEhandle'QQ intoaverticalposition will move'the'segnient V '20 into'aiposition to bridge thegap19. When it isagain desired to causethe'water wheel to operate, the handle 22'maybe swung intothe full line position shown'in Figure7landthe shaft 6 may be manual'lyrotated "a distance sufiicient to cause one of the paddles 13 to drop into'the water andgto be'impelledathereby. The water striking this 'paddlet will.

.swing the water wheel and'will'cause the other paddles to successively drop into the water. The handle 22 may be held'in a vertical position by a hook 23 shownin Figure 1. The shaft 6 is connected to anydevice that it is desired to operate. The weight of the shaft and the water wheel maybe carried by a thrust bearing 24, shown in Figure 2. The

device is simple in construction and durable and efiicient'i'or the purpose intended.

AlthoughI have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it islto be-understoodthat the same-is susceptible ofvarious 1 changes and I reserve the right to employ :such changes as may come'within the scope ofthe invention as claimed.

In Figures 3 and 6, I show a partition25 ior'directing the waterpast one sideof the water wheel; whilein Figures 3 and 10, I

show the cover 8 provided'withan annular groove 26 for receiving thelugs 15, when'the :latter. are supported by the ring 18.

I claim: 1 I

Ina waterwheel constructioma rotatable 7 wheel having paddles 's'wingably 1 carried 

